Tourists visit the Phu Gia conical hat village in Cat Tuong commune. Photo B.L

1. Among eight villages recognized as traditional craft villages in Phu Cat district, the Phu Gia conical hat village in Cat Tuong commune is given special attention as it was selected as a culture-tourism village whose products are recognized as typical rural industrial goods of central and Central Highlands magnitude.

Cat Tuong commune is well-known for many traditional crafts, such as the making of Com, chong tre (small bamboo bed), brocade, conical hat girdle cake, and incense. They have not only generated jobs for many rural laborers in two hamlets of Phu Gia and Xuan Quang but increased the locals’ income.

The commune’s three villages were recognized as traditional craft villages in 2005.

Cat Tuong is the one of 13 localities nationwide selected to join the plan on building the Culture-Tourism Village of Vietnamese Ethnic Groups.

After three craft villages were recognized 5 years ago, Cat Tuong has been financially supported to build essential facilities, including roads, power system, exhibition house, according to Vice Chairman of Cat Tuong commune People’s Committee Le Quang Cong.

Some vocational training courses were also held, aiming to recover and develop traditional craft villages.

At present, about 500 households have joined craft villages, making incenses and girdle cakes. The Phu Cat conical hat village has attracted many visitors since it was recognized as a traditional craft village.

All Phu Gia villagers are proud of their village which was selected to become a culture-tourism village. 60-year-old Do Van Lan, a Phu Gia villager, has spent over 50 years making conical hats. He expressed the happiness when the village became a culture-tourism village and said the locals would make all-out effort to work.

A house displaying Phu Gia’s conical hats is being built, meeting the local people’s dreams. It will feature the quintessence of conical hats. Lan intended to make a 2-diameter conical hat which is expected to be exhibited here. When the exhibition house opens in the future, visitors will be able to enjoy the procedures of the making of a conical hat performed by the villagers.

2. The Phu Gia’s conical hat with unique features also experienced ups and downs. It once seemed to be consigned to oblivion, but it now becomes a souvenir thanks to its distinctive features. A present-day Phu Gia conical hat is designed with different patterns, meeting the buyers’ demand.

The making of a conical hat requires 15 steps. Not many, thus, do all steps. Some people came here to learn how to make conical hats, but they were hopeless at learning the making of conical hat at Phu Gia village.

The local authorities of all levels have made every effort to recover the traditional craft villages, particularly Phu Gia village; however, there still exists many problems. The village has no signs proving it is a culture-tourism village.

Also, it is 15 steps that slow down the procedure for making conical hats while the demand is more and more increasing, let alone other issues becoming obstacles to develop the craft.

All problematic issues require special concern from the local authorities and functional bodies, helping the Phu Gia conical hat village develop strongly and attract more and more visitors.

• Hoai Trung